Sure enough , a week later , I got a call from Michael's mother . She was wailing . " Alana ! How can you be so heartless ! Michael is your husband ! How could you send him to prison ? " " We're divorced . " " That doesn't count ! He didn't mean it ! He was just angry ! " The old woman was completely irrational . " Go to the police ! Tell them was a misunderstanding ! A lovers ' quarrel ! If you just pay back the money , it will all be fine ! " " How am I supposed to pay back millions ? With the kickbacks your son took ? " I shot back . She was speechless for a moment , then started crying even louder . " That was money my son earned ! What kickbacks ? Alana , have you found another man ? Is that why you're doing this to your own husband ? " I hung up and blocked her number . The peace lasted for a day . The next day , Scarlett showed up at my door . She was wearing a loose dress , no makeup , looking pitif- ul . " Ms. Vance , " she said , her eyes red and swollen , " I was wrong . Please , I'm begging you , let Michael go . " I looked at her coldly . " The law will judge him . It has nothing to do with me . " " It does ! If you just sign a letter of forgiveness , his sentence will be lighter ! " She reached for my hand , but I stepped back . She immediately dropped to her knees . " Ms. Vance ! It was all my fault ! I was stupid ! I was foolish ! I made you angry ! Michael was just bewitched by me ! For the sake of my baby , please , have mercy ! A child can't be born without a father ! " Neighbors started peeking out of their doors . I remained unmoved . " We're not even sure the child is Michael's . " Scarlett's face went white . " What ... what do you mean ? " I just sneered . A person like Scarlett , who seemed so innocent and foolish , was actually deeply manipulative . Her damsel - in - distre- ss act was irresistible to men . I had dangled the bait , and she had taken it . " Get out ," I said , and shut the door in her face. I could hear her hysterical sobs from outside . A few days later , I got a call from the detention center . Michael wanted to see me . After some consideration , I went . Through the glass partition , I saw him . He was haggard , with deep - set , hollow eyes and a scraggly beard . The confident , successful man was gone . A promising future , destroyed by his own greed . He picked up the phone , his voice hoarse . " You came . " " Say what you have to say . " He was silent for a moment . " I know I wronged you . I was wrong . For the sake of our marriage ... " " Our marriage ? " I laughed . " When you were protecting Scarlett and forcing me to apologize , did you think of our marriage ? When you were shredding the divorce papers and calling me a slut , did you think of our marriage ? When you were using your authority to frame me , did you think of our marriage ? " He was speechless . After a long pause , he rasped , " Scarlett is pregnant . " " Congratulations , " I said coldly . " You got what you wanted . " 15:12 03 Chapter 2 His voice grew urgent . " Even if you hate me , the child is innocent ! I need to get out ! I need to provide for my child ! You can't be the cruel ! " " You needed money , so you took kickbacks ? Embezzled company funds? " The irony was staggering . " Michael , as I recall , a CFO's annual salary is no less than half a million dollars . " " I was forced into it ! " he snarled . " It was that idiot Scarlett ! She kept screwing up ! I had to keep cleaning up her messes ! The money was never enough ! " The same old story . It was always someone else's fault . " You'll have better luck telling that to the judge . " I put down the phone , ready to leave . " Alana ! " he slammed his fist against the glass , his face contorted in a furious snarl . " Are you trying to destroy me ? I'm telling you , if I go down , I'm taking you with me ! You just wait ! " I turned back and looked at his hysterical rage . " I'll be waiting . " The case against Michael was solid , and he was quickly indicted . Scarlett was out on bail , but her movements were restricted . She came to beg me a few more times . After I called the police , she stopped . The world was quiet . I took my mom on a trip to the coast . Seeing her happy smile , I once again thanked whatever forces had given me a second chance . When we returned , I officially started my new job at Orion Group . My position was Vice President of Sales , reporting directly to the CEO . I threw myself into my work , developing new markets , integrating resources , leading my team . My performance soared , and I quickly established myself in the new company . No one here knew about my past . Here , only ability and results mattered . I was content . Occasionally , I would hear news from old colleagues . Michael had tried to pin all the blame on Scarlett , claiming he was under her influence . But the evidence was against him . He was the primary culprit , and his sentence was sure to be long . The millions he had transferred had been recovered . He had schemed and plotted , and ended up with nothing . A DNA test revealed that Scarlett's baby was not Michael's . He had a complete breakdown in court , screaming and trying to bash his head against a wall . Scarlett , now with a criminal record and a child , was struggling . I heard she was working at a coffee shop , working long hours for minimum wage . Michael's mother , unable to cope with the shock , had fallen ill . She spent her days cursing Scarlett's name but had no money for proper medical care . I thought hearing this would make me happy . But in truth , I no longer cared what happened to them . They had brought it all upon themselves . As I was leaving the office one evening , a figure lunged out and blocked my path . It was Michael's mother . Her hair was completely white , and she was disheveled and dirty , looking like a beggar . Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!